Anambra Building Collapse: Two Die, Others Hospitalised

Two individuals, whose identities have not yet been disclosed, have been reported deceased in the collapse of a two-storey building at Ekeoyibo market in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State on Thursday.

The PUNCH had reported that the two-storey building still under construction, housing traders and shop owners suddenly collapsed at about noon on Thursday, initially trapping some traders and buyers.

The Spokesman for the Anambra Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the death of the two victims to our correspondent after inquiries on Friday.

Ikenga said some other initially trapped victims, who were rescued from the rubbles are currently receiving treatment at a hospital (name withheld) in Amawbia.

He said, “Two persons were found dead after rescue operations were concluded. Some other trapped victims, rescued alive are still receiving treatment at the hospital.

“Rescue operations were concluded late in the night by the state emergency responders with the supervision of security operatives who maintained law and order.

“The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations led operatives at the scene for on-the-spot assessment and to maintain order. For now, the cause of the disaster has not been ascertained. Further details will be communicated.”

The Amawbia building collapse is coming barely a month after a five-storey building collapsed at the premises of Dennis Memorial Grammar School, killing one person.

It also came less than four months after a similar occurrence happened at the Ochanja Market in Onitsha, killing about six persons and injuring 20 others.

Worried by the incessant building collapse in the state, the state government and affected agencies have set up several panels and committees to probe the developments, but nothing has yet to come out of the report.

Although the Anambra government has yet to react to the latest collapse at Amawbia, it was gathered that a statement would soon be issued on the development.

Meanwhile, when our correspondent visited the collapsed site on Friday, the scene was cordoned off, even as some people and traders were seen loitering around the place.

However, some traders who spoke to our correspondent in separate interviews at the scene said more than two persons lost their lives and several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

A trader, who gave his name simply as Uche said, “The building suddenly crumbled, burying some traders under the debris. It did not give any sign before it happened. More than two persons were brought out dead and several others were alive during the rescue operations that lasted late in the night.

“No one knows what caused the collapse, although some people have blamed substandard materials, others blamed persistent rainfall. But we have advised people to stop taking shelter or going to uncompleted buildings during this rainy season.”

Another eyewitness, identified as Nwafor, said, “One of the persons killed was my neighbour in the same area, he was a civil defence officer. He had four children. The oldest amongst them is in Primary 4. I learnt he was in the market to buy some commodities.

“I came home yesterday evening to learn he was my neighbour. We greeted in the morning when I was going to work around 11 am. The building collapsed around noon. Healthy, huge young man, in his early 40s.  I’m devastated.”

Several others, including stakeholders, have called for a thorough probe into the latest building collapse to avoid further loss of lives.

Every effort to speak to some of the market leaders proved abortive as they declined to comment on the development.